Let The Peace Come Down

[Words from my song: "Let The Peace Come Down"-Copyright-SOCAN. Video on YouTube.]
"Look up do you see our children...
Let the Peace come down...
Their eyes are shining in the sun...
Let the peace come down...
And Beauty walks with them...
And Beauty's everywhere...
And sounds of Peace a-dancing
in the summer air...
How can you see all this
And say you do not care...
Let the Peace come down"...
...................Quester.

Another Perfect "Summer" Day

It's another perfect "summer" day outside my window. A day like this is to be totally embraced...if you're free to do so. If you don't...a frisson of dissonance can linger
in you. Perhaps out here we get so braced to deal with rain and grey skies...that
perfect sunny...beautiful temperatured days catch us by surprise...like snow does in
the winters out here. Anyway...I am thankful for today's sun...and before it goes
down...perhaps I'll be outward bound...to get a bit of "embracing"...in..........
..................Quester.

Lazy Daisy Days

It's a perfect day...and summer warm...I could just laze the afternoon away.
Words from a song about a day like this: "Lazy Daisy Days"-Copyright-SOCAN. YouTube video:
"Lazy daisy days...
I am in your hands...
Where the white birch stands...
And the lake is silver blue...
Lazy daisy days...
Past and future go...
Oh...if I could know...
This peace always with you"...
......................Quester.

A Flawless Evening

Earlier this evening...went down to the West End...then spent time on the shores of
English Bay. Couldn't help but notice that it was a flawless evening...with the sun
shining...no humidity...and the perfect temperature. It was good to be reminded of
how beautiful it can be down there

One Out Of Two Ain't Bad

Just returned from a trip downtown. My mission was to buy an electric pickup for my
12 string guitar. I arrived at the music store I'd been to many times before...only
to find its windows and interior completely empty...it had vanished since I was last
there. These kinds of unpleasant surprises...are another reminder...not to take
anything for granted...especially not people you know...and tend to feel will remain
in place...for when you choose to get in touch with them. Fortunately...the place
where I get my shoes was still in place...and I returned home...with a pair of shoes
that should see me through at least this summer. One out of two ain't bad..........
.................Quester.

Video: My Picto Paintings

Last night i uploaded to YouTube...a video utilizing six of my acrylic paintings.
I feel really good about this video...one of the reasons being...the variations on
my paintings I was able to make...by deploying some newly learnt about effects. I
also put in a lot of time and energy getting this video done. Again...I know that
how viewers will or will not respond to it...is anybody's guess. Over the years...I've
learnt about how...sometimes...your best work can go unresponded to...and that is why
...as an artist...you must not base your work on how much applause or response it'll get...but on your own ongoing reaching to make it better...and training yourself...
to then...let the chips fall where they may. We'll see how this video walks the
gauntlet...out there in the online world. Regardless...I feel that this is one of my
best videos............................Quester.

Flowers From The Ashes

[Words from my song: "Flowers From The Ashes"-Copyright-SOCAN].
"Another after winter morning...
Full of mountains...birds...and flowers...
And life is like a turning wheel...
You live...you love...you dream...you feel...
Then April's at your window once again...
Too many towns...too many games...
Too many foolish ways...
And every one a teacher of a lesson
meant for you...
The flowers from the ashes
of your days............."
..................................Quester.

Never Weep For Time Gone

[Words from song: "Never Weep For Time Gone"-Copyright-SOCAN. Video on YouTube.]
"Fools may speak of wisdom...
While wise men have nop say...
Let your mind keep open...
And light may come your way...
Words are easy spoken...
Fine deeds not lightly done...
So give your words like treasures...
Measured every one".................
............................Quester.

The Clearing Up Goes On

My long range clearing out of objects from my home...there being simply too many in it
...was disrupted by my being under the weather the last few days. I felt myself in
danger of coming to a dead stop with it. This afternoon/evening I felt my energy
returning...and cleared out a new area in my kitchen...and on the way out for my
evening walk...took out a largish speaker...that wasn't working anymore. Mundane
sounding stuff to anyone who isn't involved in the process I'm engaged in...but to me
...important...in wresting back momentum for this long range task...that was in danger
of flickering out...and the clearing up goes on..................Quester.

A Video With Paintings

Some of my paintings have appeared in my videos before...but last night I started
editing one...that from start to finish utilises video of my acrylic paintings. It's
an interesting process I'm in with it...starting in...and seeing what nudges come to
me about what to do next. So far...it's gone well...but I haven't totally decided...
what's going to be on the sound track of this video. It's kind of freeing...to just
work on putting together a fine flowing visual tapestry...and when that is done...add
sound to it of some kind. We'll see how it all shakes down. I am enjoying the process
of making this video...and am prepared...to take my time with it...to make it fine.
Again...if all goes well and it gets finished...and is uploaded...no one will stop
to ask what pains were taken in making it. It's you...the video maker...that decides
that for the concept you have...you are prepared to take the pains and the time to do it well...even though it takes much more time and effort...than many of the other
videos you've made. We'll see how it all turns out............Quester.

A Thank You

Was under the weather yesterday...hence...no entry. Lying on my bed...had much occasion to look at this view through my north facing window. Even at times when you're feeling wretched...a view of the mountains can remind you...that all is not lost. Before I go any further...this is a good time...for me to thank those who have put comments on my Blog...including the person who commented on my recent Blue Dragon piece. I would like to reply in the comment section of this Blog...but those who have left comments ...have done much better than I have...in figuring out the steps you take to get a comment posted. My computer and online knowledge...is one of extremes. On the one hand ...learning enough...to make digital pictures...and videos...on the other hand...a babe in the woods when it comes to things like leaving comments on Blogs. Anyway...thanks again...to those who have. It is appreciated..................Quester.

The Blue Dragon

Today's picture...is of "The Blue Dragon"...or should I say..."The Blue Dragon"...with
a red face. Around 14 years ago...I was living near a beach...and quite naturally...
collecting pieces of drift wood...became part of my life. An organic progression that
came out of that...was that I soon saw that I could take different pieces of drift
wood and put them together...and by doing so...create new entities. "The Blue Dragon"
...was the first of these stick sculptures...and I brought it along some years ago
...when I moved into a new home. It soon became the guardian of my balcony. For the
last 3 weeks or so...I've been keeping up a steady flow of objects...away from my
home...having known for some time now...there were simply...too many objects in it.
A few days ago my focus turned to my balcony...and its denizens. Making sure I would
have a record of them...I made videos of my stick sculptures...and took a few photos.
One stick entity survived the cut. Sadly...it wasn't the dragon. So...last night...
I took it out of my home...for the last time. In this time of downsizing...
requiring brutal decisions...at times...if it's ever going to work...so far... it was
the most savage one. Today...here on my Blog...I salute my funky blue companion of
many years...wherever he/she may be tonight...and say thanks for keeping me company
lo these many years. Fare Thee Well.....................Quester

Teach Me

Last night...I attended a special production of the play..."Teach Me The Ways Of The
Sacred Circle"...by Valerie Dudoward...who passed on in 2006. It was good to be there
...to pay our respects to this intelligent...caring...warm...and talented woman. I also
had an additional interest in this production...given...I wrote the songs for it. The overall evening...was a very moving one. Today's picture was taken with
most of the members of the cast present. Much more could be said...but I'll leave it
at that...so I get this in...before my midnight deadline..............Quester.

A Productive And Sunny Day

Just returned home from a trip to a theatre to see a play. Perhaps I'll write more
about it tomorrow. Before that it was a productive...and sunny day...so the least I
can do is actknowledge that...before I sign off for the night.............Quester.

The Time Of Petals

"The Time Of Petals"...is just about my favourite time of the year in Vancouver.
For me...it is more specifically...the brief piece of time...when my city becomes
touched with the pink of cherry blossoms...pink up in the branches...and pink on so
many of the streets and sidewalks. It is a time that touches me deeply...with the
bounty in Creation so brilliantly represented...but the quickness with which the
petals start falling...and having something else in your life...to practise relinquishment about. The petals have only gone from the profusely pink trees...for a few days now...but I still feel their loss. Perhaps with the coming of the roses soon...I will let them go.......................Quester.

When Spring Returns

[Words from song When Spring Returns-Copyright-SOCAN]
"When spring was mine
to seize with my love...
We danced in the dawn
and set fire to the night...
And so it is...
and so it will be...
So catch what you can
like the bird in the tree...
It's all a part of everything...
This coming and this going...
So let the seasons come and go...
To where there is no knowing"....
.........................Quester.

The Rose Is Returning

[Words from my song "The Rose Is Returning...Copyright SOCAN. Video on YouTube.]
"The sun is in the western sky...
the birds are in the flowers...
As I look out upon the world...
And pass away the hours...
I tell myself that I must learn...
To walk out there again...
And leave this place
where I have stayed...
long sheltering from the rain...
The rose is returning...
Down by the crooked lane...
Where you walked beside me...
Before the midnight rain"...
....................Quester.

By Their Fruits

"White blossoms...
old apple tree...
by their blossoms...
you shall know
their hope...
By their fruits...
you shall know...
their beauty"....
.........Quester.

Some People Become Bored

"It's funny...
how some people...
become bored...
the moment they have...
only themselves...
for company"......
..........Quester.

A Paragon Shift

"After he left...
she didn't say...
the usual nasty things
that people say...
after the big break up...
What she actually said...
was that he was
a paradigm of virtue...
You could say...
that for her...
that was a real
paragon shift".......
.............Quester.

An Unlemming Kind Of A Guy

The world is all atwitter with twittering...but I remain one of the old timers...still not ready to join this particular lemming stampede. It's not that I'm against this new online rage...it's just that I've never been one to do anything...because everyone else is doing it. Not that long ago...computers and things online...were not in my life. I was in danger of this magical technology passing me by. But then came the "nudge from the deep". I tend to live my life...based on nudges from the deep becoming insistent...and a reason to do something new...becoming clearer and clearer...until it cannot be denied. So it was with my first computer...making digital pictures...then videos...then my YouTube era. Again and again...I have been approached...to join this or that social network...or engage in this or that online...but I haven't taken the bait. I hope that those who have approached me about such things...don't take it personally...it's just that the nudge from the deep to do these things hasn't yet come...and until it does...these things are not likely to happen for me. I'm just "an unlemming kind of a guy"...living his life...as organically as he can. Popular trends may come and go...but no nudge...no participation. There...I've just utilised this blog entry...to do more than twitter away my afternoon...and so far...I like it like that....................................Quester.

The Joys Of The New Technology

Well...I did make a valiant effort last night to post something...but...at the time...
my computer/the internet...had developed a strange uncooperative lethargy. At one
point...one of those madness inducing signs came up...saying words to the effect...that "Google" could not be found...yes...that's how bad it was. Does make you appreciate even more...when everything with this new technology..."new" to me...works swimmingly...and gets you into magical regions. Yesterday...I uploaded "Ride your little donkey"...one of the videos I've made from my recent Earth Day concert. This morning...I noticed that two old friends had checked in...with kind comments...and the world keeps on turning round and round..................Quester.

My New Found Place

"My team"...the Vancouver Canucks...won last night...and are now leading their best of
seven play off series...by 2 games to 1. That might have contributed to my good feelings today...but I think...it's actually a bit more than that. I was just seated
in a very comfortable swivel chair...at my desk...placed for the first time...by my
balcony window...and feeling like just the right place in my home...from which to write. Don't ask me why I hadn't thought of this configuration before...suffice it to
say...it feels good...as I sit there and rock in my chair...if I need to...and can
look up from that position...at my mountains...above the balcony rail. Right there is
a wonderful gift...and I am very thankful for it. I think...in one of Castenada's books...Don Juan...talks of his "sitio"...his maximum place to be at...sitting at my new found place...I'm convinced that...there is such a place...and you're lucky if
you can find it...and do your work...or just hang out there. May it continue to feel
this good..................Quester.

Let The Peace Dance

"Sometimes...there are no words to say...
there are no words to say...
as I watch the wind making the tall trees sway...
making the tall trees sway...
Sometimes the Earth sings in my soul...
the Earth sings in my soul...
Let the peace dance over me evermore...
over me evermore"..........
...................Quester.

Goodbye Cracked Circle

Last night and earlier today I continued the clearing up of a section of my home.
Something small but...for me...possibly significant...happened. In my clearing up...I rediscovered a hand drum...that after I'd had it for a short time...split...no doubt from becoming too dried out. Now...this is precisely the kind of object...I would have held on to in past times...on the slimmest of hopes...that some day...I would develop the skill and patience to work with skins...and attach them like new to drum frames. I've..also...always liked...circular entities...on many levels...and throwing out anything...vaguely like a circle...tended to be...on my list of "no-no's". Today...on encountering my cracked circular friend again...I made a decision...the kind I'll probably have to make again and again...if I want to make my wish of living in monklike premises...come true. On a trip out...earlier this afternoon...I surprised myself and took it away from my home with too many objects in it...still. Tonight...as they probably said in the Godfather...it will "sleep with the fishes". Looks like making savage decisions about keeping up my outward bound flow...just like this one...is what I'm going to need up ahead...if I'm really serious about streamlining my home. We'll see.
....................Quester.

A Calm And Measured Clearing Up

Am in the throes of straightening out a room in my home. Right now...there are objects
all over my living room floor...waiting for the time...when they can be put in more
suitable places...or be sent outward bound. Last night...and earlier today...I was able
to pull off the two heaviest moves in my reshuffling...without...I am happy to report
...being left with a triple hernia. There are several aspects left to the straightening
out of this room...but I'll just peck away at it...over the next several days...making
sure that I don't get intense about it...anywhere along the line. Wish me a happy
clearing up...........................Quester.

Thinning Out Clutter

Last night I stepped up action...in clearing up part of my home. I've been carrying a
picture in my mind for a long time...of living in a place...with just the minimum of
everything...with the areas of clutter I've known for so long...finally gone. When
you think about it...monks...I've been told...live their lives making do...with
minimal possesions. I carry the sense in me...that I could live with much less
possesions than I do...and have a feeling...that at last...my life has been streamlined ...the way I always wished it to be. The great difficulty...so far...with making this dream come true...is not yet...quite being able...to banish...my inner pack rat. When selection for the outward bound stream...comes up...the feeling that
...I might still get some usage out of a winter coat...with it's zipper broken...
a long time ago...or a handleless pot...I haven't used for a long time...the "let's
keep this for a while longer"...part of me...has won out...again and again. Looks
like there's a need for me to develop a savage streak...when it comes to throwing
things out. We'll have to see how that part of my life unfolds...in the days to come
.................Quester.

Secret Of A Child

[Words from my song: "Secret Of A Child"-Copyright-SOCAN. Video now on YouTube}.
"The leaves are trembling
underneath the still grey skies...
Something strange is happening here
on this long afternoon...
It will become the secret
of a child...in time...
Haunting you...like a ghost too pale...
for you to even see...
For you to ever chase...far away...
And when they ask you
in the years to come...
How was your childhood you will say...
oh...it was full of birds and blue skies...
And that's all there really is to say...
that's all there really is to say"......
................................Quester.